The Generalissimo: Chiang Kai-shek and the Struggle for Modern China, With a New Postscript

Since I was growing up in a village in Northeast China in the 1980s, the adult people there liked talking about old time stories, Mao and Chiang are among the most interesting figures in the topics. I became curious about the two men early from my childhood.Although I don’t believe any works are 100% objective, I am especially skeptical about the biographies published in their own country, they always giving me an impression: too biased, yet is getting better now. I chose to read the two men in original English version books, also as a way to challenge and improve my English language ability.After reading Jung Chang’s worldwide bestseller, Mao: The Unknown Story, a biography focuses on Mao’s dark side, in a not well recognized serious way. I turned to read books about Chiang, at first I read Jonathan Fenby’s book, Chiang Kai Shek: China’s Generalissimo and the Nation He Lost, it is a nice biography, yet I didn’t finish, I like its book cover, Chiang’s that portrait is better represent his strong will and looks handsome. Recommend by The Economist, I switched to read Jay Taylor’s book, The Generalissimo: Chiang Kai-shek and the Struggle for Modern China. I think Chiang’s historical position in 20th century China is his vision and struggle for defending and building a modern China, not because he lost the civil war or a nation to Mao. Being a hero does not depend on success or failure.I really like Jay Taylor’s writing style for this book, objective and tried to find insights about the most important events in 20th century China, he used facts to illustrated Chiang’s personality. His viewpoints are quite balanced, not really Western or Chinese, nor the conventional view to describe him as civil war loser, a brutal dictator who lacks charisma. Jay Taylor spent many years as a Foreign Affair Officer working in both mainland China and Taiwan, and did meet Chiang in person, through five years extensive research, he is the right person who is able to write a extraordinary book about such contradictory figure in China’s history.From ideological perspective, I think his neo-Confucianism, Three People’s Principles and Christian value are more suitable for building a modern China. He was born in rich costal Zhejiang province, traditional culture reserved well there. So there is no doubt, he was man with Confucius value, he received military education in Japan during his youth time, that Japanese samurai code: discipline, loyalty, honor and sacrifice did influence him, everything combined in from his early years, made himself generally a neo-Confucian.Chiang is the heir to Dr. Sun Yat-sen in KMT, he was the winner for many power conflicts inside and outside the party. As an old time political leader, he is no big different to others, master of intrigues, cracked down his opponents, butchered a lot of people without mercy. He led China from war lord period, war against Japanese invasion, maintain Taiwan’s position in Cold War, dealt with super powers throughout the times, there were countless suffering, humiliations, ordeals, these jobs need a leader with strong will and pragmatic visionary minds. China survived from that painful and humiliating period, China is the winner, and Chiang himself is the all time ultimate survivor, even the danger of collapses were always with him.As a Chinese person, I like Mao’s poems very much. However, for personality, I admire Chiang. He was calm, staid, emotional, disciplined, he tolerated many intellectuals who against him and also corruptions of in his circles. He showed his respects for lives and culture, never tried to purge everybody or everything in his life. He is a man with bottom line, maybe, his personality is one of the reasons making he losing many golden opportunities, and finally defected by the extremely ruthless Mao.20th century’s China, was so complex and will always be researched and debated. I believe that the struggle of Chinese leaders and their people made the way for China’s rise in 21st century. We, Chinese people should thank to the western invaders, as they brought modern civilization and the right path for human evolution even there were lot of sufferings and humiliations, I despise that kind of superficially criticizing that Western powers for invading China, it was them who influenced/wake up our ancestors’ revolutionary sprit, to fight against Manchu and cut that ugly & stupid pigtails on our heads, liberated us from the being the slaves of emperors and corrupt beuracracts, finally put us on the path of modernization. Yet some backward ways of thinking are still lingering today.We should never forget the struggles and sacrifices of revolutionary martyrs and leaders who wanted to transform China and won the dignity of Chinese people. The Communists propagandized Chiang as a puppet of the United States/West, the Nationalists depicted Mao as a puppet of Stalin, the Soviet Union, in reality, just as the book told that both Chiang and Mao are the same kind of nationalists, they insisted on the soveignty of China and fought for the legal term with great global powers. They have to get the support from modern super-powers, have to play games with them. From my reading knowledge, as depicted in Jay Taylor’s book, I believe that Chiang reserved more respect for Chinese people for dealing with Western powers. There were a lot of humiliations, angers, sacrifices, etc. throughout his politics and wars.History always taught us a lot of things. What I learned from this book, from Chiang is his strong will and tactics to manage crisis, his belief and love for the country. His strong will power, rationally thinking, emotional style, never surrender to overwhelming enemies touched my heart a lot. It is the spirit I should have in my life, my business adventures.This has become one of the most important reading experiences since my childhood.At last, sincerely thanks to the author: Mr. Jay Taylor.

Abandoning an Ally: The Real Story Behind 70 Million Killed in China and America's "Forgotten War"  The author describes General Marshall allowing a six month supply of ammunition for 39 of Chiang’s divisions (Approximately 15% of Chiang’s army) and later a shipment of aviation fuel. He avoids any summary of U.S. aid to China and ignores reports from “America’s man in China”. After two years of Communist sabotage and insurrection, Ambassador Stuart, reported “America still delays the long promised aid on which survival of democratic institutions depends” Meanwhile, in Washington, internal State Department memos reinforced the “currently approved policy… … to withhold export licenses for munitions shipments to China”. War devastated China was promised restoration and modernization of its military by two American Presidents. But when sabotage and insurrection erupted, China was denied ammunition and weapons. (The war surplus armament promised and not delivered to China, deteriorated and five years later, dud hand grenades and short mortar rounds killed Americans in Korea.) Taylor quotes from and references a multitude of sources in defining characters and situations, but resorts to mindreading in his treatment of General Marshall. He repeatedly assures readers of what General Marshall “believed”. These “beliefs” invariably excuse or confuse controversial and inexplicable decisions made by General Marshall during the U.S. Mediation that preceded the fall of China. President Truman and Secretary of State Byrnes specifically ordered General Marshall to continue to rearm and support Chiang Kai-shek’s Chinese government if mediation failed. General Marshall flagrantly disobeyed that order.In 1942, The U.S. unprepared for war lost Guam, Wake Island and the Philippines. The Japanese Army, rolled through Southeast Asia towards India and beyond and appeared invincible. Only China stopped the Japanese. China fought the bulk of the Japanese Army throughout WW2. (Japanese Army records list Chiang’s army as their most lethal enemy). At war’s end, when Red insurrection erupted, the U.S. pressured China to include Mao Zedong’s insurrectionists into the National Government. General Marshall, against orders, shut down the promised aid and used resumption of aid as bait to halt Chiang’s offensives when they threatened to wipe out Mao Zedong’s forces. After seven years of WW2 devastation and two years of Russian aided revolt and sabotage, China’s resources were depleted. When the tide turned in favor the Reds, General Marshal requested no truces that might delay the Red offensives and he firmly and repeatedly declared, despite abundant contrary evidence that “The Russians were playing with clean hands”.Mr. Taylor tags Chiang with “corrupt” and “brutal”. In regard to corruption, China was blockaded throughout WW2 and received less than 2% of U.S. aid to allies, (less than 10% of promised aid). Postwar aid was blocked by General Marshall. China saved countless thousands of American lives in WW2. China was America’s bargain ally and the subject of China corruption was irrelevant! (Having raised the issue, the author fails to mention the FBI investigation ordered by HST that exonerated the purported recipients of China corruption money.) Taylor also evades Ambassador Stuart’s assessment of morality in China, as war torn, exhausted China slipped away “…. in this chaos and inaction the Generalissimo (CKS) stands out as the only moral force capable of action”. And “The men at the very top are of high integrity… There are many more like them within and outside the government”. In regard to Chiang’s brutal “Secret police”, unlike Mao, Chiang allowed visitors freedom of movement. If Mao’s brutality can be quantified at 70,000,000 dead, why no quantification of brutality charges against Chiang Kai-shek? If no substantial figures are available, why the endlessly repeated charges of brutality? Mr. Taylor’s intensive look at Chiang Kai-shek avoids the question his fellow authors have striven to stifle. “Who lost China?” should be rephrased to “Who betrayed China?” It is then easily answered if long avoided documents are reviewed.RECOMMENDED FURTHER READINGAbandoning an Ally- by: Fitzgerald, James- Amazon (U.S./China- World War II, Mao’s overthrow, Korean War- This new chronicle is drawn from previously suppressed Government documents).Wedemeyer Reports- by: Wedemeyer, Albert- Henry Holt Pub. (The China situation, 1946- by U.S. CG in China)Mao: The Unknown Story- by: Chang & Holliday- (A comprehensive view of Mao Zedong).China’s Special Area- (by Stalin’s man in Mao’s HQ)- Petr Vladimirov- Allied Pub.LONG EVADED DOCUMENTS THAT DEFINE “ WHO LOST/BETRAYED CHINA ARE:U.S. Dept. of State- Foreign Relations of the United States- The Far East and China-1946, 1947 & 1948 (may be listed as FRUS).U.S Senate- Committee on the Judiciary- Testimony of Adm. Cooke re; General Marshall Disarming China 10/51.U.S House Committee on Foreign Affairs- General Marshall Testimony on China, 2/20/48U.S. CIA Docs. ORE 32-48, ORE 32-49Selected Works of Mao Tse-tung- Vols. 1-5, Mao Tse-tung

Good, solid, and even entertaining non-fiction about events that have hardly ever made their way into western minds. It will definitely change your opinion of Chiang Kai-shek, if only for a new awareness of how torn apart China was and how he managed to keep it together while fighting warlords, Mao Zedung, and the Japanese all at the same time. Definitely worth the read. Photo is a diorama I made of Warlord Tang Shengzhi as a general under Chiang (one of two times he fought on Chiang's side) with two senior officers inspecting the defenses of Nanking, two Chinese Vickers Light Tanks, a Vickers Maxim Gun emplacement, --widely used in World War I--These, along with second-rate or biplane fighter aircraft, was typical of the type of equipment China was able to obtain with Russian (and later American) aid during the Fifteen Year and Second Sino Japanese War with Japan..

Great book to clarify much of mis-knowledge and misunderstanding of Chinese history since 20 century.I read Gen. Albert Coady Wedemeyer's biography "Wedemeyer Report!" first, determined to reset my understanding of the China civil war. There was quite some reading, and this is one of them. Absolutely recommend it.The core of the discovery is that this kind of modernization struggle didn't just happen in China, also happened in Spain, Greek, Chile, South Korea and etc. It is unfortunate that communism and radical leftism also happened at this period of time. The challenge to steer a country with profound traditional culture, under the threat of communism, to a prosperous democracy, is utmost difficult for any national leaders.

I do not endorse his views completely, but it is interesting to see the gradual swing in opinion to see CKS as not being the corrupt authoritarian leader. Where would you prefer to live - Taiwan or China? Does the answer to that question shows the achievements of CKS or the completely different background of the two countries?

The name of Chiang Kai-shek still inspires passion, adoration, hatred etc, - mostly misconceived. This book goes a long way to set the record straight. Readable and erudite at the same time.

not done with it yet but it is a very interesting read about the man and his rise. Great for any history buff.

Great.

Interessantes Thema, aber leider viel zu lang geraten. Die letzten 300 Seiten kann man getrost halbieren ohne Inhaltsverlust.